Kona Kai was fabulous and couldn'd have had a better time! The women (okay, guys, too)all so beautifully decked out I felt I was in timewarp to 1966. I got in line early and the Kona Kai itself used up all but a few frames of my film. Glad I got the pix, but wished I'd save some for the other attendees - really the best part of a big tiki gig. I met several TC'ers for the first time and a got reacquainted with a few I'd met at the Hukilau, too. Just great folks! "I'd rather be with you than with the finest peolple in the world."

Cap'n Dan's trip to Rock-a-Tiki was great fun - best bus ride ever. Rock-a-Tiki was hopping and is my kinda bar, I think.

I'm withholding judgement until a return visit. Here's why......Early into the evening, admittedly stars in my eyes as I'd been hobnobbing with TC glitterati (PJ, Humuhumu, Tiki Bree, Formikahini, the famous mrsmiley et al.) and literati (tikibars, boutiki), I slipped on the floor and broke my leg.

I wasn't dancing on the bar or otherwise acting crazily. (Actual witnesses feel free to refresh my memory on this with a private message. Don't worry, I'm not suing the Rock-a-Tiki.) Just a walk across the room, a slip on the floor and...then...me sitting on the floor telling folks, "I've just broken my leg (yes, really!) and I need to go to a hospital NOW."

Well, 6 days in St Mary's of Nazazreth got me a new titanium rod & pins in my femur (that's the big one) and a nifty set of crutches. Rehab for 2-3 months. Just flew back to Jacksonville yesterday and am trying to catch up v-mail, e-mail and w/ TC.

Yep, it bites and I wish it didn't happen. What's extra annoying, though, is that it happened so early in the weekend that I did not get to Hala Kahiki on Saturday as planned. Ah, well. Next time.

oh MAN!!! JTD i'm so sorry you had to go thru that. I was standing RIGHT next to you (while waiting for a zombie at the bar), not knowing anything was amiss, (you were very calm and chill as you waited for the CFD's best) when the EMTs walked in w/the crash cart and loaded you up. rumor had it..."he thinks he broke his leg." wow, did you ever. My condolences. freakin femur. oof. hey, looked good on the cart tho, STILL swanky. my best, get better for next year. I'll buy you a chi chi.
cpt dan.

The Jab, Mrs. Jab, and I just finished some BBQ ribs down the street and were walking to the Rock-A-Tiki when when saw the ambulance take off. I joked to the Jab "a couple Tiki Central members have alcohol poisoning". I couldn't tell for sure that the ambulance was outside the Rock-A-Tiki. Seems I was too close to the truth. Sorry.
If it is any consolation to you, the rest of the places were LOUSY-too much carved wood and not enough fancy stainless steel and glass!
Hope you get better soon-and sorry it happened!
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Wow man, that had to put a damper on your good time in Chi-town! Glad to here you are on the rebound & we wish you a very speedy re-hab on that leg. If you have the opportunity to get back to town before the next Exotica happens let us know. The Wife and I would love to show you around the places you missed out on and buy ya a couple of Mai Tai's at our personal favorite Chef Shangri La.
Tiki Up!
The Vastas

JTD:
So sorry to hear of your mishap and glad you are able to jest about it anyway. There have been more than a few unfortunate tiki party moments mentioned by several of us on this forum, however, your story and great attitude take the cake. Hang in there.
KG

On 2003-08-29 13:39, JTD wrote:Just a walk across the room, a slip on the floor and...then...me sitting on the floor telling folks, "I've just broken my leg (yes, really!) and I need to go to a hospital NOW."

OWWW!

In 1999, I slipped going down a couple of steps and compound-fractured my tibia and fibula right above the ankle. I had an external fixator for three months (I promise not to post any photos!) and it was two years before I could finally ditch the cane.

You are really lucky that they were able to put you back together with internal rods and pins. You will probably have some permanent damage, but not much. It's likely you'll have more than 2-3 months of rehab; muscles atrophy a lot faster than you think. Get yourself to the pool as soon as your sutures are out and your doc says it's OK -- the longer you are off your feet the longer your rehab will take! And once you're healed do LOTS of nice things for the people who are taking care of you right now....

Gang,
Thanks for all the kind words. It is my sincere ambition to take y'all up on those very gracious offers.

Cindy - I hear ya about the rehab! Luckily, with the rod & pins method (i.e. no cast), I was rehabbing the day after surgery! 6 grueling, but good (is that weird?) sessions before I left Chicago have given me a good start.

Me and some of the other guys were trying to figure out which hospital you were in, so we could send you a care package or maybe come down and try to cheer you up, but we were unable to find out. It's gotta stink to be stuck in a hospital all alone in a city where you don't really know anyone - so for what it's worth we were thinking about you and did try to track you down.

JTD
Best wishes for a speedy recovery from the west coast. Broken limbs? wow you guys can party...above and beyond the call.

I would like to nominate you for the "Purple Tiki" award...drum roll pleeze...(the commendation reads as follows...)

"On the 22nd day of August in the year 2003 while attending Exotica 2003 in Chicago and having braved overwhelming strong tropical drinks and music, glass ball floats, pufferfish, waterfalls and lagoons, Oceanic Art Tikis, rattan, bamboo and beautiful tiki women...JTD, Tiki Centralite, you came under a surprise hostile attack of unknown origin at the Rock-A-Tiki Tiki Bar and sustained injury while falling to the treacherous Rock-A-Tiki floor.

JTD, I so hated that you not only broke your leg and went through excruciating pain, but that you had to miss out on the rest of Exotica! Know that you were missed and thought of often thoughout the weekend. You really do get to claim the best/worst injury-while-in-the-line-of-tiki story.

NOTE: Please, nobody try to top him to steal away the title. May JTD hold it forever!

Funny, this is actually the third time I've been accused of using mojo by TC members. But why would I put it on someone who was nothing but wonderful to me, when there were other far more deserving targets?